Pin insertion fixture



I. G. LAWS PIN INSERTION FIXTURE Dec. 22, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 18, 1968 /A/l/EA/TOR /PA 5. AWS

Dec. 22, 1970 l. G. LAWS PIN INSERTION FIXTURE Filed Julyla, 196s 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States Patent 3,548,477 PIN INSERTION FIXTURE Ira G. Laws, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Seismograph Service Corporation, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Dela- Wal'e Filed July 1s, 196s, ser. N0. 745,913 Ime. cl. Bzsp 19/00, 19/04 U.S. Cl. 29-200 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fixture for facilitating the insertion of an elongated hinge pin through adjacent tubular socket portions formed along an open edge of an envelope comprising an elongated guide member havin-g an elongated slot means defined therein for receiving the envelope, a pair of support legs supporting opposite ends of the guide means at each end of said slot means for guiding opposite edges of the envelope as it is inserted downwardly in the slot means. Said slot means has a transverse width slightly less than that of the socket portions on the envelope whereby wall portions defining opposite sides of the slot means force the envelope socket portions into coaxial alignment when the envelope is fully inserted into the guide means. Stop means is provided outwardly of one end of the slot means extending upwardly of the guide members and intersecting an axis in coaxial alignment with the aligned socket portions for limiting the travel of a pin inserted from the opposite end through said aligned socket portions.

The present invention relates to a new and improved fixture for facilitating and speeding up the insertion of an elongated hinge pin through adjacent socket portions formed along the adjacent open edges of the flexible side members of a protective envelope. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a means for guiding and speeding up the insertion of a hinge pin into aligned socket portions formed along the open side of a transparent envelope or cover used for protecting voting information sheets inserted therein for use in a vote recorder of the type disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 574,106 filed Aug. 22, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,376, issued Ian. 28, 1969, and assigned to the sa'me assignee as the present invention.

In preparing vote recorders of the type disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent application in readiness for an election, a large number of voting information sheets are printed indicating the various candidates, ofiices, and issues to be decided, and these sheets are placed in protective envelopes of clear plastic material forming leaves which are hingedly connected to the vote recorders. In large general elections, the amount of work necessary to set up a number of vote recorders ready for use is considerable, and the present invention is directed towards a means for facilitating and speeding up the setup time and labor involved in preparing the vote recorders for the election. In my copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 747,607 led July 25, 1968, is illustrated a fixture adapted to facilitate and simplify the positioning or placement of the printed, voting information sheets within the protective jackets or envelopes, and the present invention is directed to a fixture for facilitating insertion of hinge pins for closing envelopes and pivotally supporting the filled envelopes or leaves in the vote recorders.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved fixture for facilitating the insertion of a elongated hinge pin into socket portions formed along opposite side members of a protective envelope or jacket for containing a sheet or card therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved fixture of the character described ice which is low in cost, easy to use, and simple in operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved fixture of the character described employing novel means for insuring a positive alignment of adjacent socket portions even though the socket portions are formed of flexible material and afiixed to fiexible side members of an envelope or jacket.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved fixture of the character described which is operative to provide for an exact amount of clearance between the end of the hinge pin and the adjacent side of the envelope, into socket portions of which the pin is inserted.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished in one embodiment thereof comprising a fixture having an elongated guide member with an elongated slot means defined therein for receiving the iiexible side members of a projective envelope or jacket. The envelope preferably is sealed on three sides and is open on one edge to enable a sheet or card having printed voting information thereon to be inserted into the envelope from the open side. The opposite sides of the envelope are provided with alternate, elongated, tubular socket portions formed of flexible material and adapted to receive an envelope closing hinge pin. The guide member is supported by a pair of support legs positioned at opposite ends of the slot means so that when the envelope is inserted downwardly in the slot means the legs guide the edges of the envelope. The slot means is dimensioned with a width slightly less than the diameter of the socket portions whereby the socket portions are forced into coaxial alignment with each other when the envelope is fully inserted in the guide. Stop means are provided at one end of the structure for engagement with one end of the hinge pin, which is inserted through the aligned socket portions on the envelope sides.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new and improved fixture for facilitating the insertion of an elongated hinge pin through adjacent socket portions formed on opposite sides of an envelope or jacket;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, detailed, perspective view of one end of the fixture and illustrating stop means for limiting the extension of the hinge pin from the outer edge on an adjacent socket portion of the envelope;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating an envelope in a partially inserted position in the guide `slot means of the fixture;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing the envelope in a fully inserted position in the fixture with the socket portions thereof held in coaxial alignment and the hinge pin partially inserted in the socket portions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially along lines 5 5 of FIG. 4 but showing the hinge pin in a fully inserted position engaging the stop member of the fixture;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view taken substantially along lines `6 6 of FIG. 3 but illustrating the envelope in another partially inserted position in the fixture; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view taken substantially along the lines 7 7 of FIG. 5 and illustrating the envelope in a fully inserted position within the guide slot means Of the fixture with the hinge pin inserted in the coaxially aligned socket portions of the envelope.

`Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings and, specifically, to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated a new and improved fixture of the character described, generally referred to by the reference numeral and especially adapted for use in facilitating and speeding up of the insertion of an elongated hinge pin 12 through adjacent tubular, flexible socket portions along the open edge D of an envelope or jacket 16. The envelope includes a pair of generally rectangular opposite side members 18 formed of thin, flexible, clear plastic material which are heat sealed together along three edges A, B, and C (FIG. 3) and are open along a fourth edge D. As more fully described in my aforementioned copending application, within the protective envelope or jacket 16 is placed a voting information sheet 20 having printed matter on one or both sides thereof pertaining to an election, and the sheet is viewed through the envelope and protected thereby during the voting. Together the envelope and information sheet therein make up a complete leaf, which is then mounted along with others on a vote recorder to give the voters the necessary guidance for voting. The envelope includes several elongated, tubular socket portions 14 formed of fiexible, clear, plastic material and affixed alternately along the open edges D of the opposite side members 18, as best shown in FIG. 3. When the hinge pin 12 is inverted through the aligned alternate socket portions 14, opposite sides of the envelope are closed and locked together along the edge D so that the voting information sheet cannot fall out of the envelope or become displaced therefrom.

In accordance with the present invention, the fixture 10 includes a flat support base 22 having a plurality of rubber grommets or supporting feet 24 mounted at the corners thereof for supporting the fixture on a work surface, such as the top of a desk, a bench, or the like. At opposite ends of the base 22 are provided a pair of upright, channelshaped support legs 26 and 28 and, preferably the legs and base are formed of sheet metal or other rigid material, and are secured together by spot welding, brazing, or other fastening means. The support legs 26 and 28 are are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the larger dimension of the envelope 16 which is to be inserted in the fixture and the facing inside `surfaces of the support legs form vertical guiding surfaces for guiding the opposite sealed edges A and C of the envelope as it is inserted downwardly into the fixture. The support legs 26 and 28 are also dirnensioned so that when the lower sealed edge B of the envelope 16 touches the base 22 (FIG. 4), which serves as a stop therefor, the tubular elongated socket portions 14 are aligned approximately even with the upper ends of the support legs, as best shown in FIG. 4. The support legs are provided with horizontal, inwardly extending flanges or tabs 26a and 28a at the upper end which support a horizontal guide member 30 having an upper surface in parallel with and spaced above the base 22. The guide member 30 includes a pair of elongated, spaced apart, rigid metal or plastic angle members 32 and 34, and each tab 26a and 28a supports an end of each angle and is attached thereto by suitable means, `such as by spot welding, brazing, bolts, or rivets. The structure is thus relatively rigid and provides positive support for an envelope 16 inserted therein downwardly between the spaced pair of elongated angles 32 and 34 and the upright support legs 26 and 28. Each of the guide angles 32 and 34 includes a horizontal, upper ange 33 and a downwardly extended vertical flange 35, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the vertical anges 35 are supported in confronting, parallel, spaced apart relation defining an elongated slot therebetween for receiving and guiding an envelope 16 inserted therein. The horizontal flanges 33 are mounted with their upper surfaces in a common plane which is parallel to the support base 22 and spaced upwardly thereof by a distance slightly greater than the length of the sealed edges A and C of the envelope 16 so that when the envelope is fully inserted in the slot between the vertical flanges 35 of the guide member and the edge B is contacting the base 22, the elongated, tubular socket portions 14 are then disposed between the inside, parallel, confronting surfaces of the flanges 35, as shown in FIG. 7. The confronting surfaces of the vertical anges 35 of the guide angles 32 and 34 are spaced apart by distance S, FIGS. 6 and 7, which is slightly less than the normal outer diameter of the elongated flexible socket portions 14 of the envelope 16. Accordingly, when the envelope 16 is inserted downwardly in the slot of the fixture 10 into the position of FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the alternate :socket portions 14 on opposite side members 18 are forced into accurate coaxial alignment with one another ready to receive the hinge pin 12. The elongated slot or opening defined by the inside confronting faces of the flanges 35 of the guide angles 32 and 34 provides a convenient means for guiding the sides 18 of the envelope as the envelope is inserted into the fixture and automatically aligning the tubular socket portions 14, when the envelope is in the fully inserted position of FIG. 7.

After coaxial alignment of the socket portions 14 has been obtained as described, the hinge pin 12 is inserted into the right-hand end socket portion (FIG. 4) and moved axially from right to left through all of the socket portions until the tip of the pin extends outwardly beyond the left-hand end socket portion (FIG. 5). As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the support legs 26 and 28 are formed with cutouts or slots 26b and 28b, respectively, which fully expose the endmost socket portions 14 of the envelope for easy insertion of the hinge pin 12, as described. The hinge pin is provided with a pointed end or tip 12a and an enlargement 12b spaced inwardly from the tip for preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the pin after it has been fully inserted, as shown in FIG. 5. The opposite end of the hinge pin 12 is provided with an eyelet 12e to facilitate mounting of the pin and leaf on the vote recorder.

In accordance with the present invention, the desired amount of extension of the tip 12a of the hinge pin past the left-hand socket portion (FIG. 5) is controlled by a stop block 32 mounted on the upright support leg 26, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The stop block 32 includes an upstanding stop finger 32a which is spaced outwardly the desired distance from the outer surface of the support leg 26. The inside surface of the stop finger 32a is at right angles to and intersects the extended axis of the coaxially aligned socket portions 14 along the edge D of the envelope, so that upon full insertion of the pin 12, the tip 12a engages the finger 32a and limits further travel of the pin. Because the elongated socket portions 14 are of fiexible material, after the assembled leaf has been removed from the fixture 10, frictional engagement of the socket portions on the hinge pin normally restrains longitudinal movement thereof, and the distance between the tip 12a of the pin and the left-hand end socket portion is maintained as initially set in the fixture. The envelope 16 with hinge pin 12 inserted is closed along the edge D, and the voting information sheet 20 is positively retained in the envelope. The completed leaf is now ready for installation in a vote recorder and is withdrawn upwardly from the fixture 10 by grasping the projecting opposite end portions of the pin and withdrawing the leaf upwardly and out of the slot in the guide member 30 of the fixture.

The pin inserting process is repeated in rapid fashion until the necessary number of leaves for an election have been completed and the time and labor required is greatly reduced over previous methods used. The fixture 10 is low in cost, simple in construction, easy to use, and even an unskilled operator can use the fixture to greatly speed up the operation of inserting pins in the envelopes in the preparation of vote recorders ready for an election.

While there has been illustrated and described one embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A xture for facilitating the insertion of an elongated pin through adjacent liexible socket portions formed along adjacent edges of a pair of exible side members on the open side of an envelope comprising an elongated guide member having slot means defined therein for receiving said envelope inserted between opposite longitudinal edges of said slot means, said slot means having a width slightly less than the diameter of said socket portions whereby said guide member supports said socket portions in coaxial alignment when said envelope is fully inserted in said slot means, a pair of support legs at opposite ends of said slot means extending downwardly of said guide member for guiding opposite edges of said envelope during insertion in said slot means, and stop finger means spaced outwardly of one end of said slot means and extending upwardly of guide member and intersecting an axis in coaxial alignment with said socket portions for limiting the travel of said pin when inserted through said socket portions.

2. The xture of claim 1 wherein said guide member comprises a pair of elongated, rigid guides of angular cross section in spaced apart, parallel relation forming said slot means therebetween, said guides including horizontal flanges disposed on a common plane and extending outwardly of one another in opposite directions and including vertical flanges disposed in spaced apart, parallel relation for guiding respective side members upon downward insertion of said envelope in said slot means thereby aligning said socket portions in coaxial alignment.

3. The fixture of claim 1 including a base supporting said legs in spaced, parallel relation with said guide member forming a stop surface to engage an edge of said envelope opposite said open edge when said envelope is in a fully inserted position in said slot means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,287,287 6/1942 Boltz 29-241 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 29-11, 241 

